Compare Pay TV Packages

Content

Without a doubt, the first thing you’ll need to consider is what type of content you want to watch the most on your Pay TV service. If, for example, you’re after the biggest range of TV shows and movies, Netflix might be the way to go. In contrast, sports lovers will no doubt be attracted by Foxtel’s huge range of quality sports networks, while reality TV enthusiasts might be best-suited to a platform like hayu, which focuses exclusively on this type of content. Most people don’t watch just one genre, so you’ll likely be looking for something which combines a few of your favourite types of programming. Regardless of what you like, however, it’s vital that you ensure the service you go for will be able to fulfil your needs.

Data Usage

Though there are certainly similarities between how much data different streaming services use, there are some which tend to eat through your data a little more. If you have unlimited data on your broadband plan, this won’t be too much of a problem for you. If, however, you have a capped plan, you could end up paying more than you bargained for. Too much streaming could see you needing to pay excess charges for exceeding your data limit, or you may even need to purchase a more data-heavy plan to accommodate your needs – something which will inevitably cost a little more money – so make sure you know how much data a platform is likely to use before you sign up.

Cost

Cost is an obvious factor, and one which virtually everyone will take into consideration prior to purchasing anything, not just pay TV. The way pay TV platforms structure their prices varies, but for the most part you’ll be looking at a monthly fee to access a group of networks or a library of content. For some, you’ll simply be paying monthly on no-contract, while others will lock you in for a certain period of time – the latter option, though it doesn’t sound ideal, can often end up saving you money. Other services charge on a per-view basis, which is suitable for lower-volume viewers who might not want to pay a monthly fee for something they will only occasionally use.

Foxtel

The pioneer of pay TV in Australia, Foxtel delivers over 90 channels of entertainment, news and sports via cable and satellite. Both methods require installation at the customer’s premises if Foxtel hasn’t been connected there before.

Foxtel recently launched their live 4K programming alongside the new iQ4K box. You can automatically record your favourite shows to watch later with the exact same quality as if you were watching them live. Coupled with a broadband internet connection, the Foxtel iQ4K box also give you access to on-demand replays of recent shows, live sport and entire seasons of certain programs – all of which is included in the subscription cost. Plus, you get access to the Foxtel app, allowing you to watch content on demand wherever you are.

Foxtel Now

With Foxtel Now, you can stream the best choice of new shows, complete seasons, and live sport from around the world. Start things off with the Pop & Lifestyle entry pack, from which you can add on other premium packs including Drama, Movies, Sport, and Movies. If you want more content on top of that, you can get the all-inclusive pack that comes with the Kids and Docos packs as well.

Foxtel Now also currently offers a free trial so that new subscribers can take it for a test drive with no lock-in contract across a range of compatible devices including PC’s, Mac, Xbox One, Playstation and Google Chromecast, as well as select Smart TV’s and more.

Foxtel From Telstra

Two names – one awesome service. Foxtel from Telstra is exactly what the name says. It’s Foxtel in its full, home-installed form, but sold and billed by Telstra. Therefore, it’s only available to those who have an active Telstra service of some kind (a prepaid mobile service is perfectly fine). There are often extremely compelling deals available on Foxtel packages when you subscribe this way, so it’s well worth checking out what’s on offer.

The packages are a bit different from Foxtel. You can choose between Entertainment, Entertainment plus Drama or Movies, Entertainment plus Sport, Entertainment plus Sport and Drama or Movies, and Platinum HD, which includes all channels. Subscribers also get access to the Foxtel app to stream content anytime. See what’s trending on Foxtel from Telstra.

Fetch TV

The relative newcomer to Pay TV in Australia has found itself a lot of fans. Its extremely capable hardware gives customers access not only to a range of general-interest pay TV channels (delivered via broadband streaming), but also the cream of on-demand video providers such as Stan and Netflix.

Continuing to garner attention in the world of Pay TV for its solid deals, Fetch TV’s larger boxes – available to buy outright or on plans – are also feature-packed hard-disk video recorders. They enable you to capture free-to-air programs to watch later and come with tons of features you’ll likely enjoy. If you have a fast broadband connection, Fetch is a worthy Foxtel alternative. The premium channel packs are only $6/month, or you can get them all for $20/month. Plus, Fetch also offers World TV packages and specialised sport packages, so you can customise your subscription so that it best matches your needs.

Kayo Sports

One of the most recent players to enter the pay TV game in the country, Kayo Sports is the only sports-dedicated streaming service that delivers over 50 sports live, on-demand, and in High Definition. It proves to be the most suitable choice for avid sports fanatics, who only want to pay for watching sports.

Given that Kayo is backed by the experts at Fox Sports, you can also expect nothing but the best sporting events from the country and around the world. Even better news is that Kayo costs way cheaper than Foxtel’s sports pack, and also comes with a variety of special features including Key Moments, SplitView, and No Spoilers – making it the best option for sports fans all over the country.

Ten All Access

Network Ten made waves with the announcement of their very own streaming service, Ten All Access. Launched in partnership with CBS in the US, Ten All Access delivers the hottest shows on TV including reality hits like The Bachelor and Survivor, plus acclaimed dramas such as The Good Wife, NCIS, and CSI.

Thanks to their 1-month free trial offer, you’ll get instant access to over 7,000 commercial-free episodes that includes both classics, original shows, and the latest releases. If that’s not enough, you can also tune in to CBSN’s 24/7 live news stream. After the free trial, you can continue to watch your favourite shows from Network Ten and CBS for just under ten bucks a month, which is still quite a deal given the quality of shows they have on offer.

hayu

Hayu is the perfect streaming service for reality TV fans. With over 3,000 episodes of the world’s most addictive shows, the platform caters to a very niche crowd. Some episodes arrive the same day as the US, so Keeping up with the Kardashians becomes a breeze. At $5.99/month, hayu is a bargain for true reality TV addicts.

Besides fresh episodes straight from the US, hayu hosts complete seasons of exciting series, allowing fans to binge from the start. You also get tons of other exclusive reality content like stories, quizzes, and popular clips you can share on social media. All in all, hayu is the undoubted home of reality TV. Top content on hayu includes shows from the Real Housewives franchise, Below Deck, Million Dollar Listing New York, Flipping Out, and more.

BigPond Movies

Looking for the latest blockbusters straight from the cinema? BigPond Movies offers a wide range of movies to buy or rent, from box-office hits to classic darlings. There are no ads or subscription fees to worry about – you simply watch what you want, when you want it. You can rent movies or buy movies & TV shows to watch again and again. Since there’s no subscription fee, you control what you spend and when you spend it.

Top releases on BigPond Movies include Black Panther, Ocean’s Eight, Venom and many other blockbuster films. You can watch on your computer, mobile device, the new Telstra TV, or selected smart TVs. New movies cost around $16 to buy and $6 to rent. As for TV shows, there are plenty to choose from – including Peaky Blinders, Suits, Outlander, Brooklyn Nine Nine, and Gotham.

Stan

Stan has been growing significantly in recent times. Aside from offering a generous catalogue of TV shows and movies, the service also fast-tracks several popular US TV shows, so you can watch the latest episodes as soon as they appear. You can get Stan in either SD, HD, or Ultra HD, with each respective plan costing an extra couple of dollars per month. Whichever plan you choose, you get access to the platform’s entire library of content. You can watch Stan on a variety of devices – game consoles, smart TVs, and media streaming devices.

OzFlix

OzFlix is a unique streaming service, in that it only offers Australian movies. The platform is committed to making Aussie films easily accessible to both local and international audiences through the highest quality streaming technologies available. Not only that, but the team behind the project is hoping to eventually source “Every Aussie Movie. Ever”.

Another great thing about OzFlix is that, unlike other services, once a movie becomes available on the platform, it will never be deleted. Popular titles include Blue World Order, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dish, The Babadook, and more. The service also offers original content in the form of movie reviews, interviews, and fun facts. Instead of paying for a monthly subscription, you buy/rent the titles you want.

DocPlay

Are you a fan of documentaries? DocPlay is the perfect addition to your streaming catalogue. As the title suggests, the service only offers documentaries – from classics like Blowfish and Bowling for Columbine to more recent releases. Some docos are available for free every month, in SD, and with ads. However, to take advantage of everything DocPlay had to offer, you will need a subscription – though this is available for either a low monthly cost, or a slightly reduced annual fee.

Docos are sorted into six different interest groups – Australian Stories, Art and Culture, Human Interest, Music, Science and Nature, and Sports. There is a strong presence of Australian documentaries, which is a plus. Popular titles include The September Issue, Searching for Sugar Man, The Cove, and Sherpa.

Netflix

If you know a bit about streaming services, you’re probably already familiar with this one. Netflix has been around the block for a while, which shows in their dedication to constantly improving the service. There is a ton of original content available – movies, TV shows, documentaries, and kids programmes.

Netflix is available on a wide array of devices, from smartphones to streaming media gadgets. You can download shows for later to avoid burning through mobile data. There are three subscription plans, from $9.99 to $17.99. All in all, if Netflix’s original shows don’t win your over, the user-friendly interface and seamless streaming experience will.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime Video in Australia is making baby steps towards joining the big leagues. The service boasts a pretty small library of content, but it’s growing month by month, and the incredibly affordable price makes it an appealing prospect in any case.

The service is especially worth it if you’re a fan of Amazon originals: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Mozart in the Jungle, Sneaky Pete, The Man in the High Castle, Transparent, Bosch, I Love Dick, and more. If you prefer a wider range of content, however, the small content library might not be enough to satisfy your binge cravings, but at such a low price you might want to give it a go anyway.

iTunes

iTunes allows you to buy/rent titles – whether we’re talking about movies, shows, or music. You pay as you go and, thanks to iCloud, the content you buy appears on all your devices. With a huge library of content, there’s likely you’ll find something you fancy. iTunes is also home to Apple Music, with an enormous catalogue of 40 million songs, curated playlists, Beats 1 radio and more.

What makes iTunes great is the platform’s convenience for iPhone and iPad users. However, buying entire seasons of TV shows can get pricey. So if you’re an avid binge-watcher, investing in a subscription-based service may be the way to go. If you only watch occasionally though, iTunes is a great pick.

Google Play

Similar to iTunes, Google Play offers content for purchase on a pay-as-you-go basis. Unlike iTunes, the service is available for both Android and iOS users. There is a ton of content available, from classic movies to recent TV shows. You will need to download the Google Play Movies & TV app to your desired device.

However, as was the case for iTunes, buying entire seasons of TV shows can get expensive. Still, Google Play is a great choice for anyone looking to buy a recently released movie or TV episode. For TV shows, you can also purchase a Season Pass. This ensures you will get access to each new episode as it becomes available.

YouTube Premium

If you are an avid YouTube user, investing in a YouTube Premium subscription makes sense. First off, you get rid of ads. Secondly, you unlock original content by YouTube influencers. Watch creators like Dan and Phil, Rhett & Link, Shay Carl, PewDiePie, Lilly Singh, and more take their creativity to new heights in their most ambitious productions ever including feature-length movies, documentaries and series.

Finally, you can play music and videos even when offline. Not to mention the fact that you can switch to another app on your phone and YouTube will continue to play uninterrupted in the background. Users can purchase a YouTube Premium subscription for a relatively low monthly price, a price which also includes a Google Play Music subscription as a bonus.